U.S. Reviews Arms Sales Amid Turmoil

Questions Over Governments' Longevity and Abuses in Crackdowns Raise Doubts About Military Assistance to Mideast

By

Adam Entous

Updated Feb. 23, 2011 12:01 am ET

WASHINGTON—The Obama administration has launched a review of military assistance and prospective weapons sales to countries caught up in a wave of popular revolts, underlining growing uncertainty about how the turmoil sweeping the Middle East will alter fundamentals of U.S. policy in the region.

The unrest could have broad implications, from forcing the U.S. to cut off aid to specific military units found to be involved in crackdowns on civilian protesters, to delaying multibillion-dollar arms deals to Gulf states, one of...